Matthew was worried.
It was time for his execution next week, and he could not accept death without achieving anything.
He could not close his eyes to this invalidity, and he did not fulfill his daughter's hope.
Whenever the investigator of heretics asked him, Matthew would say with an urgent face:
“Let me meet His Holiness the Pope.”
But the priest refused with a cold face:
“His Holiness is praying now and receiving no one.”
“No!
Then, let me meet His Majesty!”
The priest laughed sarcastically and said:
“And where does a king meet a rebel?
Brace yourself, Duke Priem.”
The priest looked at Matthew and laughed.
At that moment, Matthew's face distorted.
He had Matthew walk around his cell.
He had to find a solution.
Then he heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming from afar.
Matteo believed strongly that this person had come to save him.
The footsteps stopped in front of Matthew's cell.
Matteo raised his eyes to look at the visitor's face.
He was the king's servant.
The one who has served the king for decades and knows everything in his heart.
It occurred to Matthew that it was over.
correct.
The king cannot give him up easily.
Because he must put Fabrice on the throne.
The greatest force supporting Fabrice is the Duke of Prieme, that is, himself.
Matthew clasped his hands tightly and looked at the person coming and said:
“Why were you so late?
How long did you wait!”
Auto blame sound output.
The servant said:
“Duke Priem.”
The voice was cold.
“His Majesty was very angry, but His Majesty showed mercy and said that he would not be held accountable for the crime of rebellion.”
Matthew waited eagerly for the next words to come out of the servant's mouth.
“But there is conclusive evidence that the Duke is a worshiper of heresies.
His Majesty said he would leave the matter to the temple court.”
"What?!"
Matthew knew that the heretic's fate was death, so he did not like the servant's words.
Matthew tried to prevent the servant from leaving by shouting:
“Get me out of here!
If you just get me out, I can explain everything to Your Majesty.”
The servant turned and looked at him with a look of contempt.
“Duke Priem, thank His Majesty for his mercy.
Whether it is rebellion or heretical worship, you are a criminal who deserves to die and has no hope of salvation.
Confessing your sins is the way to die without shame.”
With that, the servant turned and left.
Matthew shouted to the servant:
"You!
Look at me!"
But the servant never turned around.
To accept his sins.
Matthew felt wronged.
Matthew remembered the wealth, power, and honor that were in his hands.
He had everything.
He was destined to become a relative of the king and have greater authority.
But from that moment he was accused of heresy, everything in his hands began to leak out like grains of sand.
If he is accused of heresy, his titles and possessions are taken away.
In Valois, where religion is fundamental, being accused of heresy is an unparalleled disgrace.
As for power?
Matthew smiled, mocking his situation.
The old nobles who were friendly with him did not even send news.
Those who went out of their way to see them once.
Their betrayal was more insulting to him than the king's rejection.
“I can't die like this, I don't have to die like this...”
Matthew's sad conversation with himself was reflected in the dark underground prison cell.
Giselle was lost in thought.
To put Fabrice on the throne, the most important thing was to deal with the First Prince.
In fact, something more urgent than that is removing the risk factor.
First Princess, Therese Engelger.
Since all the conspiracies actually stem from her, if she dealt with her first, it would be easier to remove the First Prince.
Isn't it because of this woman that Fabrice and her family are in danger?
If you think about the future, a woman should not be left alone.
So, in what way?
At that moment, I heard a knock on the door.
“Madam Angel is here.”
“Come in.”
Angele greeted politely and then held out a folder to her.
“Investigation report on the First Princess as requested.”
“Thank you, Angel.
It came faster than I expected.”
“Yes, ma’am, I dealt with him as quickly as possible.”
Angele's forehead, which was full of vitality, was still wrapped in the bandage.
Giselle flipped the file over with a refreshing smile.
“Marquis of Engelger’s youngest daughter, can we use Marquis of Engelger as bait?”
When Giselle said this as if she were talking to herself, Angel replied:
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.
It’s difficult to deal with the Marquis because he is unconscious...
Also, her father has abused her since childhood, so there is no relationship between them at all.
He may even secretly allow it and keep his hand off her.”
“See?”
Giselle said in a voice that did not express pity at all.
“So, what about the First Prince?”
“The security measures have increased since the disappearance of Prince Fabrice.
He cannot be approached.”
“See?
We should have planted a spy from the beginning.”
“I'm sorry, I didn't think about that, I was busy preparing for the engagement party...”
Angel said, scratching his head as if feeling remorse.
correct.
Angel was also recruited for Giselle's engagement party and worked until his bones broke.
In order to suit Giselle's demanding taste, there were many unobtainable items within Valois, and he had to work all night every day.
As a result, Giselle was able to perform the engagement ceremony wearing a yet-to-be-known Valois diamond necklace.
Giselle's diamond necklace was the fruit of Angel's tear.
“Wasn’t that woman barren?”
“That's right.
I know she is undergoing regular examinations by the palace doctor.”
Angel answered quickly.
“How long has she been married?”
“I think it has been more than five years.
If we also count the engagement period, it will be close to six years.”
“What… having children during the engagement period is something only young people do.
Even if we only count the marriage period, it has been more than five years, and there is still no news.”
Giselle grabbed the seat of the sofa and made a “knock-knock” sound.
“Even a high-status woman, if she has been disdained for years, her self-esteem is eroded.
Wouldn’t it have disappeared by now?”
There was some laughter in Giselle's words.
“That's right, ma'am.”
Angel agreed.
“So, let's take advantage of this point?
Watching something collapse by spontaneous combustion is more fun than setting it directly on fire.”
"Good."
Angel replied with a nod of his head.
Giselle smiled as if satisfied.
“Oh it's time for the prince to eat.
You can leave, Angel.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Giselle rose from her seat and went deeper into the palace, singing.
There was a room closed with a large lock.
Giselle creaked open the lock and opened the door.
Stuffy atmosphere.
Not even the sound of a small mouse moving was heard inside the room.
Giselle lifted the thick, tightly closed curtains and opened the window.
The windows were covered with thick wooden panels and locked with locks.
Giselle opened one of them and turned to look at the bed.
Rays of afternoon sunlight penetrated the room.
There was a man sleeping on the bed, motionless.
It is not known if he was asleep or just lying down.
Fabrice had a pale face because he had not seen the sun for several days.
“Prince, wake up.
It’s time to eat.”
Fabrice remained lying motionless.
It was because the wound on his back had not healed yet.
“Wake up quickly, my prince.”
Giselle said in a soft voice as she grabbed Fabrice's arm.
Then Fabrice, who had been as still as a dead man, suddenly stood up, looked around, and said:
“Where… am I…”
It seems he hasn't adjusted yet.
Then he looked at Giselle's smiling face with a steady look, as if he had regained consciousness, and replied:
“Is it... time for... food already?”
“Yes, of course, come out.”
When Fabrice couldn't stand properly because of his shaky legs, Giselle helped him.
"Are you feeling very tired, Prince?
Shall I request food to be brought to the room?"
“Oh, no!
It's okay.
No, it's okay.
I can... walk fine.”
Fabrice put strength into his legs and walked hard.
Then he reached the dining room.
The food had been placed on the table in the dining room.
“Everything has already been set.”
When Giselle said that in her usual voice, Fabrice was startled and said:
“Sorry...
I didn't wake up sooner.”
“The food will get cold.
Sit down, Prince.”
"…Yes."
When Fabrice, who had turned into a gentle lamb, sat across from her, Giselle picked up the cutlery and began to chew and swallow elegantly.
Fabrice also took the food while watching Giselle's eyes.
Dinner time was very quiet.
“Prince.”
"Yes!"
“Your wounds are almost healed now, right?”
“Yes, yes yes!
Of course, Duke.”
“I will check your wounds again after dinner.”
“No, it's okay...”
“Do not refuse my sincerity, my prince.”
"…Yes."
“After examining your wounds, you will be able to return to the palace.”
When Giselle said that, Fabrice's eyes widened.
"Is...that's true?
You're taking me back to the palace..."
“Prince, have you ever seen me speak falsely?”
“No, it didn't.”
Fabrice answered kindly.
“It seems that you have recovered now, so you should return to the palace.
Do you want to stay with me some more?”
“Ah, no!
I'm grateful for being taken care of, but I'm more accustomed to the palace...”
When Fabrice apologized with an embarrassed look, Giselle said with a laugh:
“Of course you will if you are serious, you don’t need to come here, do you understand?”
“S, of course I will.”
There was a hint of seriousness in the face of Fabrice who answered this.
Can I trust him?
Giselle decides to trust Fabrice again.